BOILERS, PUMPS & VALVES
HEAT PUMPS: AN ENERGY EFFICIENT HEATING TECHNOLOGY
MarkMcManus,managing director of STIEBEL ELTRON UK, dispels themyths surrounding heat pumps and explains how they will play a vital role in helpingmeet climate challenges
A
s the COP 28 summit reached its climax at the end of last year, controversy emerged
as wording to phase out coal, oil, and gas was inexplicably dropped from the conference’s deal. What ensued was a mass scramble of almost
200 countries on the conference’s final day as they looked to salvage a deal which would significantly reduce humanity’s impact on the planet. In the end, they just about agreed to include a move away from fossil fuels following furious condemnation on a global scale. What’s clear is a widespread desire for greener
initiatives which will safeguard the planet moving forward, with reducing carbon intensive fossil fuels top of the agenda. One such initiative is the decarbonisation of home and building environments, something which leading supplier of renewable heating products, STIEBEL ELTRON, is seeking to drive forward.
SUSTAINABLE HEATING Moving towards sustainable heating resources, such as the adoption of
heat pumps in buildings, will significantly reduce a nation’s carbon footprint. However, the transition towards heat pumps is being hampered by misinformation around the technology’s ability to perform effectively when compared to a traditional gas boiler. Solutions presented to consumers need to be practical, viable and, above all, an effective option which they can have confidence will perform. So, it is up to the renewable heating technology sector to demonstrate to consumers why heat pumps tick all the boxes when it comes to changing their heating system.
“Despite concerns, heat pumps systems do not consume a
lot of electricity. A properly designed heat pump system
will use around a quarter less electricity than traditional forms of electric heating”
THE MYTHS A common misconception is that transitioning to heat pumps is prohibitively expensive, and while the initial installation cost
can be higher than traditional heating
systems, it’s crucial to consider the long-term
savings and benefits. Being Mark McManus
highly energy-efficient, they generate lower operational costs over time, and many governments and energy companies offer incentives and rebates which ease the financial burden of their installation. In addition, despite concerns, heat pump systems do not consume a lot of
electricity. A properly designed heat pump system will use around a third to a quarter less electricity than traditional forms of electric heating. This is because a heat pump should only need electricity as drive energy, with additional energy required gained from the air, earth or groundwater. Then there is the notion as to whether heat
pumps are too good to be true and can they really be as green as highlighted. The simple answer is: yes. Heat pumps use renewable energy to generate
heat, so no CO2 is created on site, and when combined with green electricity to drive them, none at all is generated. Heat pumps thusmake a huge contribution to climate protection, saving around
2.5 tons of CO2 annually per system. With 28 million households in the UK, this
would see savings of 70 million tons of CO2 each year if they were implemented in every home
across the country. Another concern is that heat pumps are only
suitable in new buildings, but the reality is that they can be successfully used to heat even the oldest properties. Modern heat pumps can be used in renovations, even with radiators, when design is appropriate. Indeed, STIEBEL ELTRON estimates that more than 50% of existing heating systems could be converted to heat pumps without the need for major measures. This could increase exponentially with greater will power from the government to drive forwardmeasures to improve insulation and energy efficiency within buildings. Anothermisconception is a heat pump’s inability
to work effectively when air temperature is below freezing. However, heat pumps on the UKmarket today can work down to -25˚C, with many designed with large surface areas which allow themto work better andmore efficiently at lower temperatures. So, the negative myths are largely unfounded,
and heat pumps will play a vital role in helping humanity rise to the present climate challenges.
STIEBEL ELTRON
www.stiebel-eltron.co.uk
4 day course 22nd
- 25th
April 2024
Classroom & hands on training
Held at
West Bromwich B70 6PY
from
0121 601 6691
training@bpma.org.uk
0121 6010121 601
Certified Pump System Auditor Course
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